Monday, January 30 Psalm 42:1-6 “My soul thirsts for God” The psalm pictures someone far away from Jerusalem and unable to get there. Maybe literally the location is in the far north of the country. The foothills of Mount Hermon where the waters of the Jordan burst from the mountain, the region known as… Read more about Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness
Blessed are the Gentle and Lowly
Monday, January 23 Psalm 37:7-11 “The meek will inherit the land” The contrast between what is (present) and what shall be (future) provides the context for understanding the advice of these verses. The righteous live their lives not on the basis of present appearances, but based on what they know is assured in the… Read more about Blessed are the Gentle and Lowly
God Blesses Those Who Mourn
Monday, January 16 Psalm 51:1-5 “I recognize my shameful deeds” In the story of David and Bathsheba, what is most noteworthy is not David’s sinfulness but God’s grace. To be sure, David’s sin had grave consequences; the first child born to Bathsheba died, and David’s family nearly fell apart. Nevertheless, David’s sin was forgiven;… Read more about God Blesses Those Who Mourn
Blessed are those who realize their need for God
Monday, January 9 Psalm 25:4-10 “The Lord leads the humble” The central theme of this passage is finding the “way” or “path” of God’s deliverance and divine grace. Contrary to what one might expect, a relationship with God is not based on absolute perfection of obedience, but is from the outset a relationship for… Read more about Blessed are those who realize their need for God
The Teaching of Jesus
Monday, January 2 Matthew 5:1-10 “Jesus sat down to teach them” To this point in the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus has announced his kingdom mission (4:17), called his first disciples (4:18-22), and conducted an extraordinary teaching, preaching, and healing tour of Galilee (4:22-25). Matthew now records an extensive message that develops in detail the… Read more about The Teaching of Jesus
The Early Life of Jesus
Monday, December 26 Matthew 2:1-12 “Jesus was born in Bethlehem” Ambition, strength, and strategy are characteristics that we expect to find in those successful in politics, the military, entertainment, sports, or business. God can, and has, used those characteristics in his people throughout history as he has brought about his will on earth. However,… Read more about The Early Life of Jesus
The Birth of Jesus
Monday, December 19 Matthew 1:18-19 “She was found to be with child” As was the custom for young people anticipating marriage, Joseph and Mary were pledged to each other in a period of betrothal through a formal prenuptial agreement before witnesses. This was a legally binding contract, and it could only be broken by… Read more about The Birth of Jesus
The Joy of Christ
Monday, December 12 Luke 1:57-66 “His name is John” When God acts, we should listen. Zechariah has learned this lesson. When the birth of John was announced to him, he could not believe it, so the Lord gave him a sign for reflection. He would be unable to speak until all was fulfilled. Then… Read more about The Joy of Christ